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The Best Man
The Best Man
Author: Maggie Osborne
I leave all my worldly goods to my worthless daughters, but they got to earn it.  If you three want an acre of my ranch, you got to drive a herd of longhorns to Abilene, Kansas.  If you fail, then my fourth and worst wife, Lola, gets everything.  May the best man win. — Your Pa, — Joe Roark — Neither Freddy Roark nor her pam...  more »
ISBN-13: 9781568657134
ISBN-10: 1568657137
Publication Date: 1998
Pages: 286
Rating:
  • Currently 4.2/5 Stars.
 3

4.2 stars, based on 3 ratings
Publisher: Warner Bros
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed The Best Man on + 419 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
This was a very good story. It was one of my keepers. To honor their fathers will, 3 sisters must put aside their differences and complete a cattle drive together. It was humorous and also interesting look at the sisters and how they finally learn to appreciate each other.
jjares avatar reviewed The Best Man on + 3274 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
How does Maggie Osborne do it?

The conflict of the story is simple: one successful father dies and creates a contest in his will -- if his 3 good-for-nothing daughters (who couldn't tell a longhorn from a cow) can conduct a 700 mile cattle drive to Abilene, Kansas (and get there with 2000 head of live cattle), they can inherit their father's fabulous wealth.

Otherwise, the dead rancher's 4th wife will inherit everything! She is a beautiful woman (of course) with a history of deception and thievery. She also has a plan to sabotage the cattle drive!

The SISTERS/DAUGHTERS: Frederick, Alexander and Leslie - can't stand each other.

Did I mention that their father was always disappointed that he hadn't sired sons?

What kind of a nut would take the job of trail boss under these awful conditions? Only a man with lots to prove ... and a lost reputation.

Thus begins a great story. Enjoy!
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jjares avatar reviewed The Best Man on + 3274 more book reviews
How does Maggie Osborne do it?

The conflict of the story is simple: one successful father dies and creates a contest in his will -- if his 3 good-for-nothing daughters (who couldn't tell a longhorn from a cow) can conduct a 700 mile cattle drive to Abilene, Kansas (and get there with 2000 head of live cattle), they can inherit their father's fabulous wealth.

Otherwise, the dead rancher's 4th wife will inherit everything! She is a beautiful woman (of course) with a history of deception and thievery. She also has a plan to sabotage the cattle drive!

The SISTERS/DAUGHTERS: Frederick, Alexander and Leslie - can't stand each other.

Did I mention that their father was always disappointed that he hadn't sired sons?

What kind of a nut would take the job of trail boss under these awful conditions? Only a man with lots to prove ... and a lost reputation.

Thus begins a great story. Enjoy!
reviewed The Best Man on
This is a typical Maggie Osborne book. The heroine's are pretty tough and there are funny moments in the book. It's an enjoyable book!
jubead avatar reviewed The Best Man on
I found this to be a fun read. If you are looking for depth this isn't it. If you are looking for a fun and light western romance this is something to read. The sisters were flat in the beginning but as the story progressed they matured, faced their fears, and were independent and confident. Of course all find love of their lives on the trail. The other characters except for Dal Frisco were secondary and added very little to the story.

Joe Roarke wanted sons but he got 3 daughters instead. He found his daughters worthless as well as his wife Lola(their stepmother). He didn't want to leave the ranch he worked all his life to build to a bunch of worthless women. However the thought of leaving it to charity and to strangers was worse. So who should inherit his ranch? Should he choose his worthless daughters who were pampered, high strung and who he had to financially support while he was alive or his worthless cheating wife?

So he decides his daughters are blood and should have the chance to earn their inheritance. All they have to do is to drive a herd of 2000 long horns to Kansas City. Sounds easy until they find out they have to be part of the 13 men it takes to drive a herd that size - that distance. If they succeed the ranch and all his belongings are theirs. If they fail, their stepmother inherits everything.

The sisters have no choice because without the inheritance they would be penniless and homeless. The first step is to hire a trail boss but no one wants the job when they find out that three women are joining the drive except for a recovering drunk named Dal Frisco. It is six weeks before the drive starts and he must teach the sisters to ride a horse, rope steer and shoot a gun. This proves interesting when Alex the oldest sister is in a wheel chair with an amputated leg, Freddie is an actress and flighty and Les the youngest who is doormat to her fiance who only wants the inheritance.

So the adventure begins: Can the sisters (half sisters) work togehter or will they fight and lose? Dal Frisco knows the stepmother...are they working together? Who is sabotaging the drive? Will the sisters make it? Will there be 2000 steers at the end of the drive? Who is the half naked man they find on the trail? Does Dal Frisco he stay sober? Does Les's conniving fiance jeopardize her life?


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